Open AccessPilot Study of a Dissection Table for Gross Anatomy Laboratory Equipped with a Photocatalytic Device that Decomposes Formaldehyde
Author(s) -
Ohmichi Kimihide,
Matsuno Yoshiharu,
Miyaso Hidenobu,
Yamamoto Hidekazu,
Toriuchi Masaharu,
Shimane Mitsugu,
Mori Chisato
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of occupational health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 1348-9585
DOI - 10.1539/joh.49.499
Subject(s) - gross anatomy , formaldehyde , dissection (medical) , photocatalysis , table (database) , medicine , biomedical engineering , anatomy , computer science , biology , database , biochemistry , catalysis
Recently, there has been concern about the effect of formaldehyde (FA) on the human body. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has reported that exposure to FA can induce cancer in humans . FA is also classified by the Japan Society for Occupational Health as “a substance that is considered to cause cancer in human beings and there is evidence that it does cause cancer”. FA is also a potent contact sensitizer and can elicit contact dermatitis and respiratory symptoms, probably through irritant mechanisms . Gross anatomy laboratory is a compulsory subject in most medical and dental schools and is used for studying the normal structure of the human body. Cadavers for the gross anatomy laboratory are generally injected with embalming fluid, which contains FA as a principal component. Since long periods in the gross anatomy laboratory are required to learn human body structures in detail, it is necessary for the cadavers to be fixed and preserved. Antisepsis using FA is used for this purpose because no better method exists at present. To reduce exposure to FA, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has released “The improvement plan for the dissection course in medical and dental schools” 4) which requires a reduction of FA concentrations in gross anatomy laboratories. To prevent significant sensory irritation in the general population, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an air quality guideline value of 0.1 mg/m 3